Brunt, just outside London, but it proved a Foxton arranged for Alec to start workĪt the stables of V. Three years' service in India had peeled the weight from him heĬould now do eight stone, and he toyed with the idea of returning toĬhance meeting in Redcar with Ernie Foxton, who had ridden in Franceīefore the war, offered hope. The war finally finished, Alec was somewhat at a loss what to do. Willie Sibbritt, who had been first jockey at the Torterlo Stables StationedĪt Bombay, he ran into top North-country jockey Arthur Rodgers,Īustralian Edgar Britt, the Royal jockey Harry Car and Frenchman Served two years in England before being posted to India. Ireland and the stable-boys who'd worked for him, including Alec,įound work constructing the Leeming Bar Aerodrome. War broke out, all the horses stabled at Harper's were sent to Quartered in Middleham, and another local trainer, Johnny Harper,īoth took him on, but neither were able to give him a ride in public. Fred Armstrong, the Newmarket trainer with horses Took a long, well-earned holiday before once again seekingĮmployment. – his bank balance still fairly healthy - he decided to cut his Number of rides offered drastically decreased and, at the end of 1938 Lost his allowance, he faced every jockey's nightmare – increasing Saw out his apprenticeship at the Torterelo Stable, then signed upįor a further two years, but problems were just round the corner. Given 5 francs and told to take himself to the pictures for a treat. To the stables that evening, he was congratulated by his master and Was an apprentice event for three-year-olds and that it was run atįontainebleau but the rest of the details are very vague because I That Alec can remember its name he recalled later 'I know the race Horse, then began riding work regularly, yet still had to wait aįurther two years before getting his first ride in public. Returned them to the stable where they were severely told off.Īfter this, things brightened for Alec. Stable Secretary caught up with them in his car, rounded them up, and Through a back door and fled down the road to Paris. The Great Escape was plannedĪnd one afternoon when the coast was clear, several of them slipped Little wonder that after some nine months many of Were appalling baking hot in the summer, freezing in winter and theįood was atrocious. There were 16Īpprentices in total, eight English and eight French it was not a Work for the Argentinian trainer, Juan Torterelo. The Lamorlaye training establishment near Chantilly racecourse to Hours later, Alec found himself on the way to France. Jimmy Thompson who was to become a well-known Northern jockey and Several like-minded other lads also turned up, among them He wrote off to the London address given, and was granted an Newspaper advert - “Wanted, apprentice jockeys for stable in Took instead a job as an errand boy and, one evening, spotted a When Alex would ride several winners for him. Strange twist of fate - the two would team up in the distant future As it was, Alec was obliged to seek work toįurther his dream: this brought him to the garage door of RedcarĬoach-builder, Mr G. Was here that his passion for riding grew: had he had his way andįamily funds had permitted it, he would have entered a racing stable Of such heady stuff are dreams made, as jockey Alexander John Russell, nearly 100 years later, was to discover.Īlec had been born on March 27, 1916, at 65, Buxton Street, Middlesbrough.Īlec's introduction to riding came at Redcar – the beach, not the racecourse – where, aged 14, he would spend what little pocket money he had riding donkeys on the sands.
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